Telescoping arm for windshield wipers



Feb. 23, 1943- MQZAIGER TELESC'OPING FOR WINDSHIELD WIPERS 2 sheets-sheet 1 Original Filed May 7. 1941 Patented Feb. 23, 1943 J UNIT-Eu ,STATES lernt orrlcr;

Max Zaiger, Swampscott, .Mass

Original application May 7, 1941, Serial No.

392,`269,.now'1.atent No. 2,295,620, dated September 15, 1942. Divided and this application :March-12, 1942, Serial No. 434,382

6I Claims. (Cl. 287-58) ,'Ihisinvention relates vto telescoping arms `for Fig. :11 is an end 'view of the inner section, windshield Wipers, yand this application is a looking to the left'of Fig;10;l :division of my .copending application Serial No. Fig. 12 is a perspective view-of a squared tube 392,269', led May 7, i941, unovv Fatent No. which is mounted on the -pivotlof the articulated 2,295,620 dated September 15, 1942, which, in 5 sections and embraced vby the end of a coiled turn', Was a continuation Ain part of the Lapplicaspring, as shown in Fig. 2;

tion resulting in my'Pa'tent No. 2,245,244, dated Fig. 13 is asection taken on line'IS-is of Fig.

lune 10,1941. 1, vbut showing a modified arrangement for ad- 'The principal purpose of 'the present invenjusting the tension of the clock spring show-n in tion is Ato provide aitelescop-ing Wiperarm having 10 Fig. 2; and

a slidable bar for adjusting the effective length Fig. 14 is a fragmentary View similar to Fig.

-f the arm, andequi'pped with 'improved'means l2, .but with the springs and sliding bar omitted for `yieldingly rmaintaining 'the slidable bar in and part of the inner section broken away, show- 'adjustedpositionv and for :yieldingly ipressing the ing a further modification.

".fiee end of said bar 'toward Ythe windshield. 15 In the arrangement chosen for the purpose of Further objects of'theinvention lreside lin the illustration in Figs. 1 to 6, the improved Wiper `improved structural .features of therecommended :arm comprises an inner section I4 adapted Vto-be embodiments of the invention shownin `the acmounted on the end fI5 of a motor shaft, and

'companying drawings, as hereinafter `described normally `enclosed. by a channeled `casing I6; a

:andtpointed out in the appended claims; but it 20 channeled outer section I1 preferably having a fw'illbe understood that the'structural details .of v:telescoping bar AI8* provided with a pivoted ter- `the devices herein. disclosed may be varied' to Vmina] I:9 to which :a Wiper blade may be'removfsuitparticula'r conditions Without departing from lablyY connected; a round rivet 20 constituting "the lessenceof the :invention as set `forth in said Vthe pivotfor'connecting the articulated sections claims. 25 Aand for hinging the cap or closure I6 at the Ypivnlhedmwilgs, otal connection; a clock spring 2I surrounding Fig. 1 is aside view of :a .preferred form kof .and fixed at one end Vto the pivot 29 and operaethe improved wiperiarm, as attachedto'theA shaft tively engaging the outer section I-'I so that vthe end of :a convention'alfwiper motor.; latter is normally urged toward operative posi- Fig. 2 lan .enlarged longitudinal section of '30 tion against the Windshield; :and a flat spring the arm shown fin Fig. .1, the end portions of 22 retained 'by the side walls of the channeled the `arm being broken away; V.section Iv'I and bearing against the sliding bar 'I8 Fig.' 3""is `a 7bottom lView 'of theY upper end rof `:frictionally to `hold the latter yin adjustedyposithe arm;illustrating 'the articulated connection tion While permitting vfree manual movement Aof of its'ltwo sections, :the spring member `shown in 35 the bar.

`2 being 'OIlllfIJedS` It Will be understood. that the terminal I9 is, Fig. -4 is a fragmentaryl section of 'the inner vas above indicated, adapted to carry a removvend oi lthe arm, illustrating a modied form of able wiper blade of Well-known construction and connection tothe motorfshait; purpose, the blade being pressed' against a Wind- Fi'g. 5'1is1an' enlarged Afragmentary .side view 40 shield by the action of the spring 2'I on the arm partly in`longitudina1 section, .of the free end section Il and being moved arcuately across the rportion of the outer arm section .shown in Figs. surface of the Windshield upon reciprocation of 1 and 2? the wiper arm by rotation of the motor shaft I5. Fig; 16 isa planv view of a pivoted' terminal The improved wiper arm may be mounted on ShOWnin Figs. 1V and 5; 45 Yany conventional type of motor shaft, `and its Fig. '7 is a sectional view similar to Fig. "5 telescoping bar may be connected to 'any usual lillustrating a further Amodiiication of the kouter type of wiper blade-either by the novel pivoted -Sfrm SeCtiOI' terminal I9 as lherein shown and as described .'Fi'g. .8 :is a'section online 8-8 of Fig. 7 and claimed in my said copending application Fig. `9' `is a plan vi'eW o"f` a blank from which 50 Serial No. 349,139, or by other forms of terminals the inner sectionlof the arm of Figs. `1 to 3 is `suitable for attachment to the clip of a wiper :made: blade.

Fig. '1.0 .is ia Vside 'elevation of said 'inner sec- In accordance with the present invention, the tion', assembled for Aapplic'ation to 'the motor 1in-ner arm section I4 is preferably made ifrom shaft and 'outerzsectionof theiarm; I y55 -a blank of sheet metal 'as shown in Fig. 9', the

openings including the square shaped holes 31,

small openings or recesses 28, and screw holes a clamping screw 39 (Fig. 3).

To form the inner section, the sides 3| and 32 are bent downwardly relative to the bridge 33, and the ends having the complemental tongue and slot connections are shaped to provide a round sleeve or bearing 48 when the tongue 35 is fitted to the slot 36, as shown in Figs. and 11. This sleeve portion of the inner section I4 receives a tubular bushing 4I which ts over the motor shaft I5 (Figs. 2 and 3), and the bearing is clamped to the bushing by tightening the screw 39 in the. threaded opening 38. The bushing may be secured against rotation on shaft I5 by a locking pin 42 (Fig. 2) or by the optional arrangement of Fig. 4, where a centrally recessed bushing 43 is tightened against a serrated conical portion 44 of the motor shaft 45 by a skirted nut 48 tting in the recess of the bushing and threading on the end of the shaft 45.

The spaced ends 41 of said inner section are embraced by the spaced sides 48 of the outer arm section I1, and the pivot pin or rivet 28 passes through the squared openings 31 of said end portions 41 and through complemental y openings in said sides 48. The openings 31 are larger than the pivot however, and a tube or sleeve 49 (Fig. 12) of square or other polygonal cross-section is fitted around the pivot 28 and has its squared ends engaged in the openings 31. The tube or sleeve 49 serves as an anchorage for the helical spring 2| which, as shown, has a squared inner end 50 snugly embracing the sleeve and soldered or otherwise secured thereto if desired. The spring end 50 is thus held in fixed relation to the inner arm section I4, regardless of the relative angular position of the outer section I1 as it rotates on pivot 28.

The channeled cap or cover I6 is also pivoted on the rivet 28 which passes through suitable openings in its spaced sides 5I, the latter preferably being located between the sides 48 of the `l0Y 38 and 38', the latter being threaded to receivev outer section and the spaced ends 41 of the inner section. Hence, the cover may swing outwardly away from the sleeve portion 48 to permit the mounting or dismounting of the inner section on the shaft 45; but the cover is preferably retained in closed position, as shown, by the snap engagement of inwardly pressed detents 52 within the openings of recesses 28 in the sides 3| and 32 of said inner section.

As previously indicated, the outer arm section I1 is channel-shaped and formed with spaced depending sides 48 between which slides the adjustableV bar I8. The latter is also channelshaped, and its inner end preferably has a crosspiece or abutment (il which constitutes a limit stop to outward movement of the bar which slides between the sides 48. The bar is confined within the channel of section I1 and frictionally held in adjusted position by the flat spring member 22 which is preferably laminated to provide superposed leaves, either by folding the spring upon itself as shown in Figs. 2 and 5, or by using two separate spring members as shown in Fig. '7.

In either case, the spring is held between the sides 48 of section I1 and against the sliding bar by a series of clamping ears 62 bent inwardly from said sides; and the spring is restrained from longitudinal movement with respect to the channeled section I1 by tongues 83 struck outwardly from the outer spring leaf and engaged between a closely spaced pair of the ears B2. In each case, also, the inner leaf of the spring has an inwardly struck tongue 84 which is engaged by the stop or abutment 6I at the inner end of the sliding bar, to limit outward movement of the bar.

The inner leaf or section of the laminated spring bears against the bottom edges of the bar sides 65 for a substantial portion of the length of the bar I8, thereby pressing the bar against the top or outer wall of the arm section I1 and frictionally holding it in adjusted position; and, in the form shown in Fig. '1 (corresponding to that disclosed in my aforesaid copending application), the edges of the bar sides 65 are Vnotched at 86 and the free end 61 of the inner spring leaf 88 is bent inwardly to engage in corresponding notches of the respective sides, thereby releasably to lock the bar in any one of several adjustable positions. The leaf 68 is held against longitudinal movement relative to the outer leaf 89 by outwardly struck tongues 18 which engage in the recesses formed in leaf 89 by striking out the tongues 63. Y

In the preferred form of Figs. 1 to 6, the folding of the flat spring upon iitself to provide the inner and outer leaves 18 and 19, respectively, tends to produce an outward bow 88 near the fold so that the folded end 8| presses snugly against the bar sides adjacent the open end of the channeled arm section I1 (Fig. 5), thereby preventing any looseness or chattering at that point. The spring member 18, 19 is tensioned toward operative position by inserting a saddle member or support 82 within the channel of section I1 and beneath the spring near its inner end (Fig. 2), the sides 83 of the saddle being substantially wider than the sides 85 of the bar, so that the adjacent pairs of retaining ears 62' constitute a fulcrum tending to force the outer portion of the spring against the bar; and the support 82 thus holds the inner end portion of said spring member in stationary position.

The free end of the clock spring 2| is arranged to react against a portion of the outer arm section I1 to urge its outer end toward the windshield, as aforesaid. As shown in Fig. 2, the spring end 88 bears against the end of a screw 81 threading in an opening in the stationary inner end of the spring leaf 18, so that the effective tension of the coiled spring may be varied by adjusting said screw. It will be understood that the said end portion of the spring leaf 18 is substantially inflexible by reason of the supporting saddle member 83, and does not yield under the action of the clock spring 2 I. It will be apparent on the other hand that the clock spring will yield so that the outer section I1 of the arm may be swung outwardly and upwardly with respect to the windshield, on the pivot 28|; and it will be observed that the spring-tensioned inner movement of arm section |1 is limited by its engagement with the stop fingers 34 which project at the outer end of the inner section I4 (Fig. 2).

The terminal I9 at the free end of the bar I8 is preferably pivoted to the bar as by a rivet 9| and has a broad, fan-shaped portion bearing on the bar and formed with slot 92 (Fig. 6) receiving a set screw-$13, so that they-terminal may be turned on thepivot-QI and fastened in adjusted-angular position, asd-escribedand` claimedin my aforesaid' copending` application, The terminal may alsohavelahook 94 seou-redby a rivet 95, for attaching the arm to-certaintypes of wiperblade clips.

In` the modified arrangement of Fig. 13, the adustingscrew 8'| threads in a nut 91 having locating studs 98 fitting in openings 99 of inwardly bent ears formed on the sides 48 of the outer arm section I1, instead of in the inner end of the member 18 as shown in Fig. 2. It will be understood, of course, that the adjusting means bearing on the end 86 of the clock spring may take various forms, and may react on optional stationary parts of the outer section I1.

The further modification shown in Fig. 14 provides means for releasably supporting the outer arm section in elevated position away from the windshield. To this end, the side walls of the cap or closure I6 are formed with outward extensions |02 disposed adjacent the respective side walls 48 of the outer section I8 (one pair of complemental walls being shown in the drawing) and having sockets or openings |63 therein; and the side walls 48 are provided with inwardly punched detents or studs |04 which engage in the openings |03 when said section is manually lifted to elevated position as indicated by the dotted line position of Fig. 14. In such case, the cap I6' is firmly secured to the inner section 3| by a screw |05 threading in the bridge member 33.

An articulated wiper arm of the character herein described is relatively simple and economical to manufacture and assemble, easy to apply to the usual motor shaft and wiper blade, and durable and efficient in use. The spring members and other operative parts of the device are protected and normally concealed by cover or cap |6 and the sides of the channeled outer section |1; and the arm as a whole is attractive in appearance without sacrifice of operative utility.

It will be understood that the term. clock spring as used herein and in the following claims is intended to designate a strip of flat spring steel having appreciable Width, coiled in a spiral, as shown in Fig. 2, as distinguished from the leaf spring members 18 and 19 and from the ordinary coiled spring made of round wire and rolled in a helix. It will be evident that the usual coiled wire spring would not serve the purposes and could not be supported and adjusted in the manner herein described.

I claim:

1. In an articulated wiper arm having a channeled outer section and a bar slidable longitudinally within the outer section to vary the effective length of the arm, a flat spring disposed between the sides of the channeled outer section and bearing on said bar to hold it in adjusted position, the sides of the said outer section having longitudinally spaced, inwardly extending ears engaging the outer side of the spring to hold it in operative position, and the spring having struck out tongues disposed between certain of the spaced ears and engaging therewith to prevent longitudinal movement of the spring relative to said arm section.

2. In an articulated wiper arm having a channeled outer section and a bar slidable longitudinally within the outer section to vary the effective length of the arm, a fiat spring disposed between the sides of the channeled outer section and bearing on said bar to hold it in adjusted position,

the sides ofthevsaid outersection having longitudinally spaced, inwardly extending ears engaging the outerl side of the spring to hold it in operative position, and the spring having struck out tongues disposed between certain of the spaced ears and engaging therewith to prevent longitudinal movementr of the spring relative to said arm section, and a supportfdisposedin said channeled outersection beneath the inner end portion of saidspringand acting` thereon to bend said end portion ofthe spring and tension its outer portion against the bar.

3. In an articulated wiper arm having a channeled outer section and a bar slidable longitudinally within the outer section to vary the effective length of the arm, a at spring disposed between the sides of the channeled outer section and bearing on said bar to hold it in adjusted position, the sides of the said outer section having longitudinally spaced, inwardly extending ears engaging the outer side of the spring to hold it in operative position, and the spring having struck out tongues disposed between certain of the spaced ears and engaging therewith to prevent longitudinal movement of the spring relative to said arm section, the bar having longitudinally spaced notches and the outer end of the spring having a projecting pawl selectively engageable in the respective notches releasably to lock the bar in its adjusted position.

4. In an articulated wiper arm having a channeled outer section and a bar slidable longitudinally within the outer section to vary the effective length of the arm, a at spring disposed between the sides of the channeled outer section and bearing on said bar to hold it in adjusted position, the sides of the said outer section having longitudinally spaced, inwardly extending ears engaging the outer side of the spring to hold it in operative position, and the spring having struck out tongues disposed between certain of the spaced ears and engaging therewith to prevent longitudinal movement of the spring relative to said arm section, the spring also having an inwardly struck tongue and the inner end of the bar having a stop member engageable with said tongue to limit outward sliding movement of the bar in said outer section.

5. In an articulated Wiper arm having a channeled outer section and a bar slidable longitudinally within the outer section to vary the effective length of the arm, a laminated spring comprising juxtaposed inner and outer leaves disposed between the sides of the channeled outer section, the inner leaf bearing `against the bar to hold it in adjusted position and the sides of said section having longitudinally spaced, inwardly directed ears engaging the surface of said outer leaf to hold the spring in operative position, the outer leaf having outwardly struck tongues engageable with certain of said ears to prevent 1ongitudinal movement of said leaf relative to said arm section, the inner leaf being integral with the outer leaf and folded thereon with the fold disposed at the outer end of the spring, and means located in the outer arm section and engaging the inner leaf adjacent its inner end to bend said end outwardly and hold it in stationary position, thereby to tension the folded outer end of the spring against the bar.

6. In an articulated wiper arm having a channeled outer section and a bar slidable longitudinally within the outer section to vary the effective length of the arm, a laminated spring comprising juxtaposed inner and outer leaves disarm section, the inner leaf being separate from 10 the outer leaf and having struck out tongues engaging the said tongues of the outer leaf to restrain relative movement between the two leaves, the bar having longitudinally spaced notches and the outer end of the inner spring leaf having a projecting paWl engageable in the respective notches releasibly to lock the bar in its adjusted position.

MAX ZAIGER. 

